Eagles Notes: Donovan McNabb speaks, Brian Westbrook's true demands revealed?

by JasonB on Jul 23, 2008 9:36 AM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

Donovan McNabb held his first press conference of training camp and nearly every member of the local media wrote about it... #5 was his typical optimitic self

"A lot of people have picked us to win the NFC and rightfully so," McNabb said. "It's not that hard to see the type of team we have. You don't win NFC East

championships, or you don't win the NFC, period, on paper. You put it out on the field. And our team hasn't changed that much where we can't win the NFC again. We've beaten our teams in the NFC; now we just have to do it twice for each team."

It's always good to hear a confident McNabb, but John Smallwood reminds us just how long it's been since Donovan has actually played a playoff game.

Should the Eagles qualify for the playoffs this season, and McNabb is healthy enough, the game that will be played in January 2009 will mark almost 4 calendar years since his last postseason appearance.

McNabb was asked about the Westbrook station and decided to take the Sgt Schultz tact...

"I didn't hear about the whole situation until pretty much the day before I got here," McNabb said. "That part is none of my business."

Speaking of Westbrook, Pro Football Talk says they have a source with knowledge of the Westbrook contract situation and ha some disturbing news about what his demands might be...

Per a league source, Brian Westbrook is looking for a new deal that pays him $30 million over the first three years.

We’re told that Westbrook picked his new agent, Todd France, based on the fact that France was the only one who would guarantee that he could get Westbrook a certain level of compensation.

Per a league source, multiple other agents withdrew from the running once it became clear that Westbrook was treating the process like a hand of high-stakes Texas Hold ‘Em.

No team, the Eagles or otherwise are giving Westbrook that kind of money... I hope this is just a negotiation, because if he's firm on that demand this could go bad fast. That said, the feeling around most of the local media is that the Eagles are very motivated to get a deal done with Westbrook. With his new agent, who also represents Omar Gaither, also motivated hopefully something will be worked out by opening day. Either way it seems very unlikely that Westbrook will not report to camp.

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hopefully

Lorenzo Booker is the second coming of B-West because this could get ugly and we know what the Birds do when people test there testicular fortitude, not even Westy is safe.

by Whodie126 on Jul 23, 2008 10:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You know… It kinda blows that we have to put up with this… But I’d much rather this than the alternative of the Eagles bending over and handing any willing player the bottle of KY. If we pissed away money like the Raiders, we wouldn’t be able to afford a decent team in a few years…

by foos05 on Jul 23, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why does he have to do this now

I love Westbrook, and I hate that this is being such an problem already. I understand if wants a new deal. Lets not feel soo bad for Brian, he is making 5.5 million. That is nice change. I would only offer him 1 or 2 mil more a year. Guarantee a leat 10-15 mil. At the moment he is only guaranteed 500 thousand. If he gets hurt, and can never play again, he is don…

I wish he didn’t have to be working this out now. The teams doesn’t need any distractions at this point.

Dallas Sucks

by yophillybro on Jul 23, 2008 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, it’s not a distraction until it’s a distraction. So far I don’t think anything has been said or happened that would be a distraction. If he shows up to camp I have no doubt everything will be fine regardless of whether he wants more money.

If he chooses not to come to camp or while he’s there he creates a problem… then we can worry. For now, it’s just a lot of talk and media speculation. I don’t think it’s become a distraction for the team or anything.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 23, 2008 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, some of my Westbrook info is wrong,

Please see my fanpost for the correct figures..
Also, Jason, I hope you are right. I think we have a playoff team this year, I don’t want that to get messed up over contracts.

Dallas Sucks

by yophillybro on Jul 23, 2008 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A little to soon to call Booker the next Bwest....

don’t you think your going a little to far, Whodie? I mean just look at his personal history. He was Mr. Football in Flordia, I think 2 years in a row too. He was the hottest RB prospect going into FSU. He didn’t produce like everyone thought he would(I have not looked at his numbers). He was in Miami and it wasn’t like he was unstoppable or anything. I know all the Miami players suck compared to ours, so that will make a huge difference. I am just saying that it would be nice for him to mature into another Bwest, but we have to wait and see.

All we need to do is look at Ryan Moats. Ryan Moats can run, he has great vision, speed, aglilty etc etc. He hasn’t really produced for us. There are many factors, but some exotic cars like Moats and Booker are hard to keep running. Just look at Bwest and Kevin Jones. We need to be patient with Bookers saute’ing and maturation. Till then we need to worry about Brian Westbrook aka “The Eagles offense”. He will get a raise and I think they will get it done. They have paid players before. Both our tackles, Mcnabb, Our DE’s, Dawkins who got way over paid in my opinion. So I think there is some precident there. Certainly not like the free spending, Cowboy’s, Redskins, Raiders of the league.

” love Westbrook, and I hate that this is being such an problem already. I understand if wants a new deal. Lets not feel soo bad for Brian, he is making 5.5 million. That is nice change. I would only offer him 1 or 2 mil more a year. Guarantee a leat 10-15 mil.”
Sounds like a plan to me.

I can’t see anyother type RB getting that kind of money. Other than AP, LT, LJ, Tiki Barber. These guy’s are all a little bigger. Does anyone know how much Priest Holmes got? He was a hybrid back and a damn good one. Maybe we should compare his salary to Bwests. And note that Holmes was knocked out of the league with one shot.

by topcat6 on Jul 23, 2008 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs